London has been battered by 50mph winds that have felled trees and caused travel chaos. Powerful gusts swept across the capital as the Met Office issued a yellow "be aware" weather alert for most of the country.

Road test: Peugeot’s green machine

Related Articles

Peugeot is known for its big estates, especially the Seventies 504. Now the firm has a new contender; the capacious 508 SW, starting at £18,695, and offered with a choice of 1.6 petrol or diesel engines or 2 and 2.2-litre diesels.

But it’s also available as a hybrid model, the RXH, a glitzy showcase for Peugeot’s green innovation, offering an unusual combination of two-litre turbocharged diesel turning the front wheels and powerful 37 bhp electric motor turning the rear wheels.

Costing £33,895, this estate is luxuriously appointed and comes with innovative HYbrid4 technology that, at the turn of a knob, offers “sport” mode for extra performance, four-wheel drive mode for extra grip (with the rear wheels driven by the electric motor), an ordinary “auto” mode and ZEV mode when, for short bursts, it can just use the electric motor. And it’s a good-looking package with slightly raised ground clearance (up 50mm), extra cladding on the bodywork, loads of space in the cabin and a decent boot.

In auto mode Peugeot claims an impressive 68.9mpg, although it works best in sport mode.

Buyers will choose this car for its load-lugging ability, cutting-edge technology and the cosseting, premium nature of the cabin. It also has a great colour head-up windscreen display, half-leather trim and heated front seats.

The ride is firm and it handles solidly, an added bonus in this technology-rich car.